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As a second-round NBA draft pick, A.J. Price has a challenge to make the Indiana Pacers.

But that's just a basketball challenge. He has faced far more.

As a college freshman, he suffered a brain hemorrhage that threatened his life.

Price had to sit out the next season after an arrest involving stolen laptop computers, an incident that strained his parents' marriage.

In March 2008, he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee before recovering to play his senior season and helping lead Connecticut to the Final Four.

"It was very difficult. When I went through a lot of different things, there were times I wasn't sure I'd even have this opportunity to be drafted," said Price, taken by the Pacers with the 52nd pick Thursday night.

"Every thing I went through, I wanted to bounce back. (Thursday) meant a lot for me, probably more than for a lot of other people."

Price entered college as one of the most touted guards in the 2004 high school class, ranked with the likes of current NBA players Sebastian Telfair, Rajon Rondo and Kyle Lowry.

In October of his freshman year, he was hospitalized. On his 18th birthday, he was on a respirator, and his parents, Tony and Inga, wondered whether their son would live.

"It's your worst nightmare coming true, and you're actually living it," Tony Price said. "You're trying to stay calm and collected, but you're not sure what's going to happen at the end of the nightmare."

Price was diagnosed with arteriovenous malformation, an abnormal tangling of blood vessels in the brain. He was successfully treated with radiosurgery. He would live. He knew that. But play again? No one was certain.

"I don't think I understood the blessing I had to still be alive," Price said. "I was kind of bitter about it. I wasn't going to be playing and there was no timetable.

"I wasn't really in the right mind-set and that led to my laptop situation. I didn't go and steal anything, but I made the poor decision of trying to sell what I knew was stolen."

His arrest came in August 2005 when stolen laptops were found in his room. He received probation, was suspended for the 2005-06 season and was out of school for a semester.

During that time, his father made him work on a construction crew.

"I was really (mad) at him," Tony said. "Other people were telling me to get through it, which we did. The reality of working, not playing at all and being out of school, he responded well to it.

"He's showing people that was one incident and not what he's all about."

Price saw what his actions did to his family, especially publicly. His dad acknowledges it took months for him to forgive his son.

Price's parents work in the insurance industry in the New York area. Price was a prep basketball star, leading Amityville (N.Y.) High School to two state titles, averaging 28.5 points as a senior.

His parents were respected professionals, his father a member of Penn's 1979 Final Four team.

Now the heralded son was suspended from college, back home, his name making national news for all the wrong reasons.

"When I got sent home and saw the pain on my mother's face and the embarrassment I caused the family name, I realized what I had at stake," Price said. "I vowed to my family that I would make amends, and I spent the next three years doing it."

Price, who is one foreign language class short of a degree in political science, played three seasons without incident.

For many basketball players, overcoming a torn ACL would be the main theme in a story of overcoming adversity. But for A.J. Price, that was the smallest hurdle.

Additional Facts
Scouting A.J. Price
• Position: Point guard.
• Size: 6-2, 181.
• Skill package: Considered an outstanding on-court leader who understands the game and excels in the pick-and-roll, which is a major part of NBA offenses. Known for making big plays when needed. Was the Most Outstanding Player of the West Region in the 2009 NCAA Tournament in leading Connecticut to the Final Four. Shooting touch is a question; he hit 41 percent for his college career.
• Numbers: Averaged 14.7 points, 4.7 assists and shot 41 percent as a senior.
• What the Pacers like: "He is very good in the pick-and-roll. He keeps his head up, keeps the dribble low," team president Larry Bird said Friday. "He had a great run at the end of the season, played with great players, and Connecticut plays against great competition. We're looking forward to getting him in here and seeing what he's all about."
• Worth knowing: His father, Tony, played on Penn's 1979 Final Four team.

=====================================

I'm interested in seeing him in the preseason. If he's better than Diener, this was a win.

Re: A.J. Price appreciates chance with Pacers

Usually takes a year to get back fully from an ACL, right?

If we keep Jack, which I fully expect unless he gets a ridiculous offer (I could see Portland doing this), the only chance I see Price sticking is if Tinsley is bought out or Diener is moved (not expecting such).

Re: A.J. Price appreciates chance with Pacers

I would really like to see the kid make it as well. It may be just the case of the good kid doing something stupid from a momentary lapse of judgement. I look at it from the point of view what did he do from then on out. The kid continued to work hard and did what he needed to do to succeed. That should count for something when reviewing this kid.

Re: A.J. Price appreciates chance with Pacers

He didn't steal any laptops. He tried to sell them after they were stolen.

He didn't do that either.

His roomate, Marcus Williams tried to sell them. (That's how he got caught)

AJ was gonna get a cut of the money for keeping his mouth shut about the laptops being in their room. Really stupid move on his part. But it was one incident four years ago. He's a really good kid who just did something dumb.

Re: A.J. Price appreciates chance with Pacers

His roomate, Marcus Williams tried to sell them. (That's how he got caught)

AJ was gonna get a cut of the money for keeping his mouth shut about the laptops being in their room. Really stupid move on his part. But it was one incident four years ago. He's a really good kid who just did something dumb.

?

AJ quote From tbabyy924 post:

"I wasn't really in the right mind-set and that led to my laptop situation. I didn't go and steal anything, but I made the poor decision of trying to sell what I knew was stolen."

Looks exactly like he fully admits to trying to sell the stolen laptops.

Re: A.J. Price appreciates chance with Pacers

"I wasn't really in the right mind-set and that led to my laptop situation. I didn't go and steal anything, but I made the poor decision of trying to sell what I knew was stolen."

Looks exactly like he fully admits to trying to sell the stolen laptops.

Well he got caught with them in his room. Marcus tried to pawn them off which was how he got caught. *Which is even dumber. Men's college basketball is the biggest thing in connecticut, everyone would have known who he was and that he was a suspect in the stolen laptops case*. Maybe, just because he didn't actually sell them, or try to, but was going to get a cut of the money anyway, he considers that trying to sell them.

Re: A.J. Price appreciates chance with Pacers

"He's showing people that was one incident and not what he's all about."

Price saw what his actions did to his family, especially publicly. His dad acknowledges it took months for him to forgive his son.

Price's parents work in the insurance industry in the New York area. Price was a prep basketball star, leading Amityville (N.Y.) High School to two state titles, averaging 28.5 points as a senior.

His parents were respected professionals, his father a member of Penn's 1979 Final Four team.

Now the heralded son was suspended from college, back home, his name making national news for all the wrong reasons.

"When I got sent home and saw the pain on my mother's face and the embarrassment I caused the family name, I realized what I had at stake," Price said. "I vowed to my family that I would make amends, and I spent the next three years doing it."

Price, who is one foreign language class short of a degree in political science, played three seasons without incident.

I like this. I didn't know what to think of him on draft night.

I wish him luck, and wouldn't mind watching Deiner become expendable.

Why do the things that we treasure most, slip away in time
Till to the music we grow deaf, to God's beauty blind
Why do the things that connect us slowly pull us apart?
Till we fall away in our own darkness, a stranger to our own hearts
And life itself, rushing over me
Life itself, the wind in black elms,
Life itself in your heart and in your eyes, I can't make it without you

Re: A.J. Price appreciates chance with Pacers

He runs a floor better than Diener IMO. He was one of my personal faves starting last season, though I've always targeted him as a 2nd round pick (2 years running in the recruiting thread). I think I still favor getting Mills over Price, but either one works for me at that spot. I'd totally forgot he was on the board when they picked him and had an "oh yeah" moment.

He's inconsistent, but when he's on he's one of your top guys (at UConn). He was much more important to UC than Thabeet IMO, just like Sam Young was more important than Blair at Pitt.

Good handles, sets the floor up well, solid set of passes, pretty good vision. Nice balance of pass-first and score-first when he takes games over.

Like his story and have always liked his personality. Of all the late picks ever, this is probably the one I was most familiar with (non-Purdue guys that is).

Re: A.J. Price appreciates chance with Pacers

From the limited highlights that I have sen, I don't think Price will make it in the NBA. He just doesn't look to have the quickness, explosion, penetrating ability that is needed ffor this type of player. Unless he is a great shooter or is an incredible passer - I don't expect him to beat out Diener

Re: A.J. Price appreciates chance with Pacers

From the limited highlights that I have sen, I don't think Price will make it in the NBA. He just doesn't look to have the quickness, explosion, penetrating ability that is needed ffor this type of player. Unless he is a great shooter or is an incredible passer - I don't expect him to beat out Diener

Because when I think "Diener," I think "quickness, explosion, and penetrating ability."

Re: A.J. Price appreciates chance with Pacers

No, but he knows the sytem, is very well liked with his teammates, is good at running the team. Plus he has a guaranteed contract - so I see Diener beating out AJ

Agreed for the upcoming season. I'd sign him to a two-year deal and stuff him in the D-league for a season.

Diener is absurdly expensive for a third-string PG, so I don't see him in blue and gold in 2010-11. Especially if O'Brien is gone.

Why do the things that we treasure most, slip away in time
Till to the music we grow deaf, to God's beauty blind
Why do the things that connect us slowly pull us apart?
Till we fall away in our own darkness, a stranger to our own hearts
And life itself, rushing over me
Life itself, the wind in black elms,
Life itself in your heart and in your eyes, I can't make it without you